Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is vowing to block President Trumps next nominee to lead the Federal Reserve unless the administration halts the Justice Departments criminal probe into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
According to Fox News, Tillis, who has frequently broken with the Trump administration and has already announced he will not seek re-election, declared on Friday that he will oppose the confirmation of Kevin Warsh or any other Federal Reserve nominee.
He made the announcement in a post on X, insisting that the Justice Departments investigation into Powell must be resolved before the Senate considers new leadership at the central bank.
"Kevin Warsh is a qualified nominee with a deep understanding of monetary policy," Tillis wrote, signaling that his objection is not rooted in Warshs credentials.
"However, the Department of Justice continues to pursue a criminal investigation into Chairman Jerome Powell based on committee testimony that no reasonable person could construe as possessing criminal intent."
"I will oppose the confirmation of any Federal Reserve nominee, including for the position of Chairman, until the DOJs inquiry into Chairman Powell is fully and transparently resolved."
Powell, appointed by President Trump in 2017, is under DOJ scrutiny over his handling of a $2.5 billion renovation of the Feds headquarters and statements he delivered under oath to the Senate regarding the projects timeline and costs.
The Trump administration is examining whether Powell knowingly misled lawmakers about the duration and expense of the construction effort.
Although the probe is formally unrelated to Powells core responsibilities as Fed chair, a bipartisan bloc on Capitol Hill has framed the investigation as a pressure tactic aimed at forcing Powell to cut interest rates.
President Trump has consistently urged lower rates to spur economic growth, while Powell has resisted abrupt moves, arguing that the central bank must safeguard its independence.
The Federal Reserves mandate is to preserve U.S. financial stability by managing the money supply and credit conditions to restrain inflation and support maximum employment, a mission Powell has repeatedly said must remain insulated from partisan political agendas.
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., a senior Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, has openly linked the DOJs actions to the administrations frustration with Powells refusal to slash rates.
"Look, there are lots of federal buildings being built. Trump doesnt have an opinion on how efficiently theyre being built. Nobody believes that this is about testimony before the Senate committee," Sherman said earlier in January when the DOJ announced its investigation.
"Its simply outrageous," he added, casting the probe as a political cudgel rather than a good-faith inquiry.
Tillis, while often at odds with the administration, echoed concerns about politicizing monetary policy when the investigation was first revealed and pledged then to block any new Fed chair nomination until the matter was dropped.
"Protecting the independence of the Federal Reserve from political interference or legal intimidation is non-negotiable. My position has not changed," Tillis said, underscoring a rare point of agreement across party lines that the central bank must not become a tool of short-term political ambition.
His stance places a conservative emphasis on institutional restraint and market stability, even as the White House seeks more aggressive rate cuts to juice the economy ahead of future political tests.
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